Key updates include new LoongArch support, updates to memory management and allocation, and expanded algorithm options providing enhanced security

UEFI Forum Releases the UEFI 2.11 Specification and the PI 1.9 Specification To Streamline User Implementations

press@uefi.org

The UEFI Forum today announced the release of the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) 2.11 specification and the Platform Initialization (PI) 1.9 specification. The goal of these specification updates is to streamline user implementation by providing increased compatibility across hardware architectures, including security updates, algorithm support and improving alignment implementation guidance.

“We have created a vibrant firmware community, and these specification updates provide maintenance and enhancement of fundamental capabilities in order to help increase the momentum of the UEFI specifications and add value to the ecosystem,” said Mark Doran, UEFI Forum President. “The latest specifications continue the UEFI Forum’s commitment to developing standards for all significant CPU architectures as underscored by additions such as the new LoongArch support in the PI 1.9 specification.”

Key UEFI 2.11 Capabilities:

• Updates to memory management and allocation, such as the new memory attribute for hit plug and Arm memory allocation mandates
• Enhancements to protocols, algorithms and boot management
• Corrections to EFI_KMS_PROTOCOL, new crypto algorithms and support for Proxy Host URI in HTTP Boot
• Improvements to error handling and documentation updates, including Common Platform Error Record (CPER) definitions and Arm processor error information

Key PI 1.9 Capabilities:

• Expands algorithm options by providing enhanced security with additional cryptographic algorithms for signed Firmware Volume (FV) and signed sections extending beyond the previous RSA2048_SHA256
• Adds Random Number Generator (RNG) PEIM-to-PEIM Interface (PPI) to serve as an entropy source for seeding other cryptographic services, allowing platforms to provide RNG services in PEI across binary boundaries effectively
• Includes new protocol for Multiple SPI Regions with varying block erase sizes, enhancing flexibility and functionality
• Adds support for LoongArch architecture, broadening the range of supported systems

To learn more, view the UEFI 2.11 specification and PI 1.9 specification on the UEFI Forum Specification webpage.

About the UEFI Forum

The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) Forum is a world-class non-profit industry standards body that works in partnership to enable the evolution of platform technologies. The UEFI Forum champions firmware innovation through industry collaboration and the advocacy of a standardized interface that simplifies and secures platform initialization and firmware bootstrap operations. Both developed and supported by representatives from industry-leading technology companies, UEFI specifications promote business and technological efficiency, improve performance and security, facilitate interoperability between devices, platforms and systems and comply with next-generation technologies. To learn more about the UEFI Forum, visit www.uefi.org.

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